Gibb and Southern Repeat So Cal Oval Karter Wins at Victorville

Joe Gibb of Long Beach and Hesperia’s Chris Southern repeated their season opening wins in the Open and KT100 classes when the So Cal Oval Karters returned to 1/8 of a mile banked Wheel2Wheel Raceway on the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville last Saturday night.

Gibb, who also races off-road trucks, not only won the main, but he swept the show winning both heats in the Open Class. That set him on the pole for the main event. Gibb’s win was a convincing one as he was a full straightaway ahead of Cathedral City racer Dillon Hoffman at the checkered flag. Hoffman held a tough battle for second with Fountain Valley’s Scott Bohle for the first half of the race, but pulled away from the third place karter over the closing laps. Norm Reynolds of San Marcos was fourth with Scotty Bassett of Van Nuys fifth. In a race where no driver finished in a position other than where he started, Gibb was also the “Hard Charger.”

High Desert local Southern and his son Thomas started the evening off right by winning each of the KT100 heat races (first ever heat race win for Thomas) and thus started side-by-side on the front row for the main event. Things went great for the elder Southern as he took his second straight win at Wheel2Wheel with Gibb in the runnerup spot. Gibb finished second in the first KT100 heat, but ended up in the wall in the second heat and had to come from fifth in the main for his second place finish and the race “Hard Charger.” Long Beach racer Matt Drotz, Rob Marion of Camarillo and Menifee’s Don Amigliore rounded out the top five.

Whitter veteran Steve Juilerat started second and took the lead when Scott Gaynor of Banning broke and went on to win his first F200 main of the 2016 campaign. Riverside’s Justin Garcia, who early in the night posted his first ever heat race victory, placed second with Gaynor getting credit for third. In addition to winning the main, Juilerat was the “Hard Charger” and won the other heat race.

Menifee’s Don Holdsworth and Speedway Motorcycle racer Tony de Almeida of Chino Hills both posted their first ever wins in the Senior 4 Cycle heats and then finished first and second in the main event with Holdsworth in the point position when the Carly Nigh checkered flag ended the race. Desiree Gaynor of Banning was third followed by John Leonhart of Norwalk. Holdsworth was also the “Hard Charger” in the main.

In addition to the big guys and gals in action, the Junior/Junior kids were represented by Kailana Franklin, Tristan Juilerat and Izzie & Illiana Bezio.

The SCOK will be back at Wheel2Wheel on May 21st for round #3 of its championship season.

Anyone interested in racing with the SCOK or interested in purchasing a race ready kart can call (805) 857-2595 or scokart@gmail.com.

The So Cal Oval Karters would like to thank the following sponsors for helping make the 2016 championship series possible. Burris Racing, Cory Kruseman Sprint Car Driving School, Hubcapmike.com, Perris Auto Speedway, R&J Motorsports, THC Home Medical Services, T-MAC Racing and Yamaha of America Racing Engines. If you or your business would like to become a partner of the So Cal Oval Karters 2016 season, please call or E-mail Mike Nigh at (805) 857-2595 or scokart@gmail.com.